Thank you, Simon. Every word of this is a wonderful, welcome tonic.
Hope folks watched Lawrence O’Donnell last night – he gave an absolutely brilliant master class responding to the pundits bloviating from the sidelines. Was happy to see Senator Fetterman push back on Morning Joe, as well: “If you’re not willing to support the President, you might as well get your MAGA hat because you’re now helping Trump.” Bravo!
If we compare America in January 2021 to today, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris genuinely deserve re-election just on the basis of their many historic positive achievements - their first term has been one of the most successful in modern times. Team Biden-Harris would have bragging rights to win on merit alone against an “old-school” Republican if such a thing still existed.
But even more importantly, this election will be a stark choice: Will voters proactively decide to remain a democracy? Or will we allow a vindictive, criminal madman to take power as a Russian-style dictator? Will we choose to keep our freedoms or will we succumb to fascism? If the mainstream media won’t clearly define the existential choice ahead, it’s on ALL of us to become information warriors each day as Simon recommends. We have the patriotic duty to stay on offense, loud and proud!
Simon, I hope you realize how important your calm, fact-based reality checks are. The gaslighting, BS and hypocrisy of the Magats and their enablers can be absolutely suffocating some days. Without your regular doses of hopium, I know I would risk falling back into the pit of despair where I spent four hideous, traumatizing years. Thank you!
Thank you Simon. I totally believe we shall win. Nothing like doing something for it is empowering us.
Writing post cards, talking one on one, knocking on doors, helping someone to register, helping someone to get to the voting station, anything gives that awesome feeling.
Thank you Simon, you are so cool and so great when you write and talk !! lol
I was astounded by the cash on hand that the Biden Campaign/DNC has vs. Trump/RNC. Money isn't everything, but it does provide them opportunities to be campaign everywhere while the RNC is going to have to hold their ground/continue to spend money on Trump's increasing legal fees. This doesn't even include Biden's big fundraising trip to California.
I'm 77. I clearly remember the year George McGovern won ONE state...his home state. I'm thinking many-maybe most are as sick of the drama, the do-nothing House as I am...and my hope is for a repeat --REPEAT- of George McGovern. Say, maybe he takes Florida. No. I'm not on any Marijuana pain meds. Just a true patriot!!
A friend and very smart dude read your analysis and his response was: Yes, but the youth vote is in jeopardy (Biden's age plus Palestine) and Biden doesn't project the right energy as a candidate. He believes this could cost him the election in key states. I think your analysis is spot-on, Simon, but you haven't addressed either of these issues. Would appreciate your analysis and ideally your reassurance!
Y'all, the GOP is getting ready to nominate Donald Trump again!!! Clearly G-d loves us best if anchor Donnie T is President Biden's competition this fall. I understand this man sucked us all into the upside-down in 2016, but he literally hasn't won a damn thing since then and the only place I think he's headed is prison, preferably in Ludowici, Georgia.
Also, that nutbag Alabama ruling is already causing a major rift in the GOP coalition. I myself have attended a church service (with a relative) where, during the hootenanny celebrating Pro-life, we prayed fervently for all of the couples trying to conceive via IVF! Uh-oh......
Thanks you Simon. How do you think the IVF ruling in Alabama plays into the larger discussion about freedom? To me it looks like one more nail in the coffin for R’s chances of winning over large swaths of the electorate.
I think it’s important to counter disempowering messages that someone else—interestingly, never the speaker—will vote the wrong way for x, y, or z reason. Lately it’s been that “other people” are too bored and tuned out to be informed voters. And I’ve heard laments that go something like: “If only Joe Biden were a loudmouth who could force people to sit up and pay attention! Then his message would get through!”
This leads to helplessness and angst. For example, Dan Pfeiffer says that people who aren’t paying attention now will decide the election, and they’ll do it on the basis of limited and possibly wrong information.
But the tuned-out are not a collective or a movement or even a coherent group. In that sense, they can’t decide anything. They may even think “my vote won’t count,” and they’re probably right!
On the other hand, movements and organizations win elections by mobilizing blocs of votes. So odds are, the people whose votes effectively decide the winner will be those who get organized and put in the work—not the random voters at the margins.
As members of this community attested in the Suozzi special, a crucial part of this work involves mobilizing the people who aren’t paying attention, making them part of the winning coalition. When they join the pro-democracy, pro-freedom bloc, their votes do count.
Pundits and even pollsters never saw that crushing victory coming because they view voters as little economists, sitting around and calculating whether to vote or not, and who to vote for, based on their individual preferences and interests. They confuse voting with shopping. So they underestimate the power and potential of organization. And they worry about the wrong things.
https://x.com/rachelbitecofer/status/1760700019190214978?s=10&t=hILo7txomZtBpEkthl3CYQ
This is well done!
Thanks Simon. U r a trusted political strategist and resource. And very right about the last GOP red wave that did not happen. 😂 🙏🏻💙💙💙
Thank you, Simon. Every word of this is a wonderful, welcome tonic.
Hope folks watched Lawrence O’Donnell last night – he gave an absolutely brilliant master class responding to the pundits bloviating from the sidelines. Was happy to see Senator Fetterman push back on Morning Joe, as well: “If you’re not willing to support the President, you might as well get your MAGA hat because you’re now helping Trump.” Bravo!
If we compare America in January 2021 to today, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris genuinely deserve re-election just on the basis of their many historic positive achievements - their first term has been one of the most successful in modern times. Team Biden-Harris would have bragging rights to win on merit alone against an “old-school” Republican if such a thing still existed.
But even more importantly, this election will be a stark choice: Will voters proactively decide to remain a democracy? Or will we allow a vindictive, criminal madman to take power as a Russian-style dictator? Will we choose to keep our freedoms or will we succumb to fascism? If the mainstream media won’t clearly define the existential choice ahead, it’s on ALL of us to become information warriors each day as Simon recommends. We have the patriotic duty to stay on offense, loud and proud!
Simon, I hope you realize how important your calm, fact-based reality checks are. The gaslighting, BS and hypocrisy of the Magats and their enablers can be absolutely suffocating some days. Without your regular doses of hopium, I know I would risk falling back into the pit of despair where I spent four hideous, traumatizing years. Thank you!
Thank you Simon. I totally believe we shall win. Nothing like doing something for it is empowering us.
Writing post cards, talking one on one, knocking on doors, helping someone to register, helping someone to get to the voting station, anything gives that awesome feeling.
Thank you Simon, you are so cool and so great when you write and talk !! lol
I was astounded by the cash on hand that the Biden Campaign/DNC has vs. Trump/RNC. Money isn't everything, but it does provide them opportunities to be campaign everywhere while the RNC is going to have to hold their ground/continue to spend money on Trump's increasing legal fees. This doesn't even include Biden's big fundraising trip to California.
Yes,yes,yes!!!! Thank you for reminding me that that word works!!!
No is not for me…. too limiting.
Preach it! Simon is doing his job. Are we finding ours?
“He wears more make-up than a drag queen” 🤣
Whew! Simon, WE the People are coming thru and in charge! Vote as if your life depends on it!
It does! Democrats need praise and credit! Move onward! With patience, too!
Go Rosenberg, go!!
I'm 77. I clearly remember the year George McGovern won ONE state...his home state. I'm thinking many-maybe most are as sick of the drama, the do-nothing House as I am...and my hope is for a repeat --REPEAT- of George McGovern. Say, maybe he takes Florida. No. I'm not on any Marijuana pain meds. Just a true patriot!!
A friend and very smart dude read your analysis and his response was: Yes, but the youth vote is in jeopardy (Biden's age plus Palestine) and Biden doesn't project the right energy as a candidate. He believes this could cost him the election in key states. I think your analysis is spot-on, Simon, but you haven't addressed either of these issues. Would appreciate your analysis and ideally your reassurance!
Y'all, the GOP is getting ready to nominate Donald Trump again!!! Clearly G-d loves us best if anchor Donnie T is President Biden's competition this fall. I understand this man sucked us all into the upside-down in 2016, but he literally hasn't won a damn thing since then and the only place I think he's headed is prison, preferably in Ludowici, Georgia.
Also, that nutbag Alabama ruling is already causing a major rift in the GOP coalition. I myself have attended a church service (with a relative) where, during the hootenanny celebrating Pro-life, we prayed fervently for all of the couples trying to conceive via IVF! Uh-oh......
Thanks you Simon. How do you think the IVF ruling in Alabama plays into the larger discussion about freedom? To me it looks like one more nail in the coffin for R’s chances of winning over large swaths of the electorate.
I think it’s important to counter disempowering messages that someone else—interestingly, never the speaker—will vote the wrong way for x, y, or z reason. Lately it’s been that “other people” are too bored and tuned out to be informed voters. And I’ve heard laments that go something like: “If only Joe Biden were a loudmouth who could force people to sit up and pay attention! Then his message would get through!”
This leads to helplessness and angst. For example, Dan Pfeiffer says that people who aren’t paying attention now will decide the election, and they’ll do it on the basis of limited and possibly wrong information.
But the tuned-out are not a collective or a movement or even a coherent group. In that sense, they can’t decide anything. They may even think “my vote won’t count,” and they’re probably right!
On the other hand, movements and organizations win elections by mobilizing blocs of votes. So odds are, the people whose votes effectively decide the winner will be those who get organized and put in the work—not the random voters at the margins.
As members of this community attested in the Suozzi special, a crucial part of this work involves mobilizing the people who aren’t paying attention, making them part of the winning coalition. When they join the pro-democracy, pro-freedom bloc, their votes do count.
Pundits and even pollsters never saw that crushing victory coming because they view voters as little economists, sitting around and calculating whether to vote or not, and who to vote for, based on their individual preferences and interests. They confuse voting with shopping. So they underestimate the power and potential of organization. And they worry about the wrong things.